2019 Pop Sugar Reading challenge: a book published in 2019.

This book was very interesting and informative and I really found myself being drawn into the Borgias' world. I think the author did a good job of showing them as 3 dimensional people and not cartoon villains (although I could see how that would be easy to do).

The edition I was reading, which as a different cover than the one shown here, had a quite a few typos.

Entertaining and informative. I learned a lot by reading this in conjunction with The Medici, also by Strathern. I've now moved on to "The Rival Queens," by Nancy Goldstone, which I have better context for now because I got so many basics for the period from Strathern's work!

3.5 stars. Whew, what a trip. The Borgias are one of those historical families I know about via cultural osmosis, because how could you not, but there was so much about their entire deal that I had nooooo idea about, starting from the fact that this Pope was fucking and killing his way across Italy. I'm not particularly religious and I don't care about blasphemy, but I guess some of the sensibilities from my Catholic school girl roots must have stuck, because I was like clutching my pearls. BRO YOU'RE THE POPE. Obviously there's still a lot wrong with some parts of the church even today, so it's not like church scandals are an anomaly, but some of this stuff beggars belief.

Haha, anyway, it was interesting. A little dense with a lot of names and places to remember, and I haven't read about historical Italy since secondary school, so there were lots of things that I had to take time to absorb and understand, especially when it came to all the politicking between the countries. It's hard to believe some of this stuff when you judge it by a metric of what you think a pope would do (even a corrupt one) and what people in their positions would have been able to get away with. But it's credible enough. I doubt he could have actually succeeded in creating a papal dynasty (because surely the opposition would have ben too great?) but it's fascinating to think about the terrible possibilities. Listened to the audiobook as read by Julian Elfer, which was a bit dry for all this drama, but still good. Very interesting account; I almost want to read one that goes into more detail, especially about Lucrezia, and the other kids who weren't his faves.

The Borgias: The Power and The Fortune
Author: Paul Strathern
Publisher: Penguin Books
Publishing Date: 2019
Pgs: 383
Dewey: 945.060922 BOR
Disposition: Irving Public Library - South Campus - Irving, TX
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REVIEW MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS

Summary:
Saints, Popes, Princes, and Poisoners. Corruption. Incest. Megalomania. Avarice. Cruelty. Divine destiny. Religious charlatanism. Money. Power. Art. The Italian Renaissance.

The Borgias were a paradox. A prideful horror visited upon Italy, but at the same time, a bon to the artistic soul of the Renaissance. As much power as they had, they always wanted more.

This is the story of their hubris and rivalries, their treachery, their fates and downfalls.

Glorious and infamous.
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Genre:
History
Italy
Biographies
Popes
Renaissance


Why this book:
Fascination with history.
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Plot Holes/Out of Character:
The mistake Pope Alexander VI made regarding the Americas was very out of character. While attempting to insure Spanish domination of the New World he drew a line on a map, not realizing that his line bisected South America, thus giving the Portugese Brazil.

After Alexander VI death, Cesare spent much of the balance of his life in prison. How could this man have trusted Julius II, a lifelong enemy? Maybe the syphillis was affecting his brain.

Favorite Scene / Quote/Concept:
“...There was much more to the Borgias than mere self-aggrandizement and corrupt hedonism. They would stop at nothing. The main driving power behind the family was ambition. No considerations of morality or loyaltywould be allowed to stand in their way.” The author is talking about the Borgias but could just as easily be America’s current royal family. Though there is a lot more stupidity falling in a pile of shit coming out smelling like roses on the Trump’s part.

Gosh...you mean Louis XII of France didn’t trust the Borgias? I’m shocked.

Hmm Moments:
Machiavelli’s maxim “Virtu’ e Fortuna” can be interpreted in many way.s I talke Virtu as being virility or force or power in teh sense of taking or stealing or dominating and Fortuna equaling opportunity. Hence in my interpretation what Machiavelli is saying about the Borgia’s grab for power is “fuck ‘em all.”

Did Pope Alexander VI of the Borgias ultimately fail to create himself and his progeny as dynastic rulers of Catholicism because he continued to look toward Ancient Greece and the Holy Land as a model instead of turning toward Spain and the New World aborning.

WTF Moments:
Pope Paul II died of an apoplexy, an apoplexy in this situation refers to gorging himselfr on melons and expiring from excessive sodomy by one of his favorites. Wow...just wow.

King Ferrante of Naples had a habit of mummifying his enemies and displaying them in a room in his castle. That is so fucked up.

Cesare Borgia was at least winkingly involved in the murder/poisoning of his brother Juan. And after so many machinations he not only took the fiefdom that formerly belonged to his brother, and was at least, one of his brother’s widow’s lovers. He, also, got his brother’s Defender of the Faith job in Rome, awarded by his father, despite being suspected.

Juxtaposition:
Alexander VI in trying to build power at the expense of everyone lead to balkanization of Italy long before that became a word. Without his interference, a united Italian kingdom could have, probably, come about apace with the unity of Spain. Ultimately, his goals were a united Italy under his and his heirs thumbs, along with the Church.

The Unexpected:
Not nearly enough blame falls on Pope Sixtus IV. He issued a papal bull that legitimized Portugese slave trading in western Africa, thus giving cover to centuries of the triangle trade and cultures of suffering.
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Questions I’m Left With:
Was Lucretia being poisoned during her pregnancies after she married her third husband?

Author Assessment:
I would read more by this author.
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according to wikipedia, the vocaloid song cantarella and how to get my husband on my side (one of my fave webtoons ever) are abt lucrezia and cesare’s lil incest moment what a fun little tidbit